Hmong American Farmers Association

Growing community wealth since 2011

Summer CSA Newsletter, Week 2

CSA, Food Hub, Friends of HAFA, HAFA Farmers, Land Access, Newsletters, Summer, Uncategorized / by

Originally published on July 3, 2018
zinnias-hafa-farm
Red, white and bloom! From zinnias, to snap dragons, to baby’s breath, the HAFA farm is decked out in colorful blossoms.
 

Dear CSA Members,
 
Greetings from the HAFA Farm and welcome to Week 2 of the HAFA Summer Share. How did everything go last week? Did you like the veggies? We would love to hear about your experiences and see what you’re cooking up with your fresh veggies. Don’t forget to tag us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

A few reminders:

  • Shares that were pro-rated to 11 weeks will start delivery this week. These members will receive their first shares on July 5th.
  • Shares that were pro-rated to 10 weeks will start delivery July 11 and 12.
  • Due to July 4th falling on a Wednesday, ALL CSAs will be delivered on July 5th during their normal estimated delivery times. 

 

Big things are happening on the HAFA Farm. Just last week, the local well vendor, Kimmes-Bauer Well Digging, dug an agricultural grade well on the eastern parcel of the HAFA Farm. (For those who do not know, the HAFA Farm is bisected by Highway 52.) The land to the west of the highway has had irrigation and running water for several years now, but the land to the east of the highway has not. As a result, produce on the eastern parcel have suffered during long periods of hot and rainless summer days. In a few weeks, a transformer will be installed and the well will be up and running. This is exciting progress for HAFA farmers and one of many steps we are taking to support Hmong farmers. 

HAFA was also recently visited by a group of students from Chatham University (Pittsburg, Pennsylvania). They were here with their Food Studies professor, Nadine Lehrer, to learn more about Midwestern agricultural systems. The students met with HAFA Farm Manager and Co-Founder, Janssen Hang, and the HAFA Farm Team to learn about Hmong sustainable farming practices, food hub management, and HAFA’s values surrounding community wealth building. Thank you Chatham University students for taking time out of your schedule to spend a rainy day on the HAFA Farm!

Finally, Happy Independence Day to all! We hope you enjoy this week’s box and, as always, happy eating.

In solidarity,
The HAFA Family
 

CSA PICK-UP INFORMATION & GUIDELINES
Delivery Days and Pick-up Time Window
As a friendly reminder, this week all CSAs will be delivered on Thursday, July 5th, but will follow the same time frames below.

WEDNESDAY       
HealthEast Roselawn – 9:45 AM
YWCA Midtown – 10:35 AM – 8:00 PM
United Noodles – 10:55 AM – Thursday, 8:00 PM
Fairview Integrated Care – 11:25 AM
City of Minneapolis Public Works – 12:10 PM – Thursday, 4:30 PM
Hyatt Regency Hotel – 12:35 PM – Thursday, end of day
YWCA Downtown – 1:00 PM – 8:45 PM
Washburn Center for Children – 1:30 PM – Thursday, 6:00 PM
Common Roots Café – 2:30 PM – 9:00 PM
YWCA Uptown – 3:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Pillsbury House and Theatre – 3:30 PM – Thursday, 6:00 PM
Fairview Southdale – 4:00 PM – end of day
Westin Edina Galleria – 4:15 PM – Thursday, end of day
 
THURSDAY           
YMCA West Saint Paul – 9:35 AM – 9:45 PM
Girl Scouts River Valleys – 10:00 AM – end of day
YMCA Downtown – 10:30 AM – 9:45 PM
HealthEast Rice Street – 11:00 AM
Fairview Stinson – 11:45 AM – end of day
Fairview Pharmacy – 12:15 PM – end of day
Fairview Energy Park – 12:45 PM – end of day
Nexus Community Partners – 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM *
Springboard for the Arts – 1:30 PM – 6:30 PM
HealthEast Phalen – 2:30 PM
Mississippi Market – 2:50 PM – 9:00 PM
YMCA Hastings – 3:30 PM – 7:00 PM *

*Please contact Mee Thor if you need to pick up beyond the hours listed.
 
Picking Up Your CSA

At the time of delivery, each site will receive a checklist listing all the members at the location and what type of share they are signed up for.

There will only be enough shares for the names listed on this sheet.

The boxes will be labeled with HAFA’s name, the share type (full/half/flower) and the pick-up site. (There will also be a number on the label, but members do not need to worry about this as it is just to assist us in counting the boxes).
 
Sample CSA Label:
csa-label
Since the boxes are not labeled with names, members are responsible for claiming the correct share and checking off your names at time of pick up. (Some sites will have a staff member handling the checklist and distribution of the boxes so just provide your name).

Please note: Half and full shares come in different sized boxes. Only grab the share size you are subscribed to. 
 
Full Share Box:
Half Share Box:
Flower shares will arrive in a black water pail:
Missing Box or Name Not Listed on Checklist

If you have any questions, your share is missing or your name is not listed on the checklist, immediately contact Mee Thor at mee@hmongfarmers.com or call 651-493-8091. Please do not claim a share unless you have been given an okay by a HAFA staff member.
 
Late Pick-Ups

If you anticipate being late for a pick-up, please contact your site coordinator or Mee Thor immediately. Shares that are not claimed be the pick-up deadline (listed above) will be donated.
Vacation Holds

If you are traveling or unable to pick up your share, you may put a “vacation hold” on your box by logging into your account and selecting “Holds” from the left-hand menu. This will alert us not to pack your box that week. HAFA needs at least two week’s notice.

You can also choose to donate your share, receive an additional share upon your return, or arrange for a friend to pick up your share while you are away (will not require a hold).

The CSA ends on September 13, 2018. If you anticipate traveling during this week, plan in advance and request your double box for a prior week.
 

WHAT’S IN YOUR CSA BOX?
This week you can expect the following in your CSA box:
FULL SHARES

Beets – 1 bunch
Broccoli – 1.5 pounds
Chives – 1 bunch
Garlic Scapes – 1 bunch
Kohlrabi – 1 bunch
Lettuce – 2 heads
New Potatoes – 2 pounds
Scallions – 1 bunch
Malabar Spinach – 1 bunch
Zucchini – 2 pounds
 
HALF SHARES
Broccoli – 1 pound
Chives – 1 bunch
Garlic Scapes – 1 bunch
Lettuce – 1 each
Malabar Spinach – 1 bunch
New Potatoes – 1 pound
Zucchini – 1.5 pounds
This week your CSA contains malabar spinach, which may be an unfamiliar leafy green. Malabar spinach can be eaten raw or cooked, and it can be used in place of your standard spinach or favorite greens.
 

RECIPES
Farmer Vang Moua sorting her potatoes. Photo courtesy of Mike Hazard.
Potato Salad with Garlic Mayonaise and Chives (Serves 4)
Epicurious August 1994
 
INGREDIENTS

  • 2 pounds small boiling potatoes (about 1 to 1 1/2 inches in diameter)
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced and mashed to a paste with 1 teaspoon salt
  • 3 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice plus additional to taste if desired
  • 1/3 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon hot water
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh chives
  1. In a large saucepan combine potatoes with salted water to cover by 1 inch and simmer until just tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain potatoes and cool until they can be handled.
  2. While potatoes are cooling, in a large bowl whisk together garlic paste, 3 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice, mayonnaise, and hot water.
  3. Peel potatoes and cut in half. Add potatoes and chives to dressing and toss well. Season salad with additional lemon juice and salt and pepper. Salad may be made 1 day ahead and kept chilled, covered. Before serving, toss salad with 1 to 2 tablespoons water to moisten dressing.
  4. Serve salad at room temperature.
 
Zucchini clean and sorted. Photo courtesy of Photo courtesy of Mike Hazard.
Grilled Broccoli or Zuchinni (Serves 4)
Taste of Home
 
Though originally published using only broccoli, we thought that this recipe would also be a delicious way to prepare the zucchini in this week’s CSA.
 
INGREDIENTS

  • 6 cups fresh broccoli spears (or zucchini spears)
  • 2 tablespoons plus 1-1/2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • Shaved Parmesan cheese and purple basil leaves, optional
  1. Place broccoli in a large bowl. Combine the lemon juice, oil, salt and pepper; drizzle over broccoli and toss to coat. Let stand for 30 minutes.
  2. Toss broccoli, then drain marinade. Place cheese in a large resealable plastic bag. Add broccoli, a few pieces at a time, shake to coat.
  3. Using long-handled tongs, moisten a paper towel with cooking oil and lightly coat the grill rack. Prepare grill for indirect heat using a drip pan. Place broccoli over drip pan and grill, covered, over indirect medium heat for 8-10 minutes on each side or until crisp-tender. If desired, garnish with shaved Parmesan and fresh basil.

STAFF PROFILE:  KA YANG

Interviewed and written by Kat St. Martin-Norburg
ka-yang-high-tunnel
Ka Yang grew up around agriculture. As a child, she spent her time helping her parents farm, but it wasn’t until college that she realized that she wanted to spend her career working outdoors. She completed a Bachelors of Science in Environmental Science Management and Policy with an emphasis in Soil Science, and then came to work at HAFA as a Research Associate.
 
“I found myself living in the city going to college, and it was all concrete and a lot less green space, I wasn’t really a big fan of working in cubicles or working inside buildings. That kind of gravitated me back to gardening and agriculture[…] That’s how I found myself doing this kind of stuff because it felt more natural,” Yang said
 
Yang spends most of her time researching in the high tunnels, which are structures on the HAFA farm that allow controlled conditions to grow crops in. Currently, she’s also working with the University of Minnesota Grossman Lab to research the effects of cover crops and Hmong farming practices and the effects on the soil. Yang is also doing low tunnel research in an effort to demonstrate their effectiveness to the Hmong farmers.
 
“That’s a push to help the Hmong farmers see what investing in more technological agriculture can do for you. Although high tunnels are really big and expensive, you can pretty much make back that cost during the year. It’s kind of a way to help Hmong farmers see it happen, because there’s a lot of this seeing is believing mentality, and they want to see it work,” said Yang.
 
HAFA is a unique organization because the majority of the staff and leadership are Hmong or minority, and Yang appreciates that unique atmosphere because she gets to use her Hmong language and culture to her advantage.
 
“I actually do get to use my Hmong and communicate with the Hmong farmers. It’s actually helped me learn Hmong again because I know I’m not the best Hmong speaker. Being Hmong at HAFA is a huge factor because it’s part of who you are, and it’s something that you have to use everyday, which is nice,” Yang said.
 
Outside of work, Yang enjoys doing what she describes are the “typical Millennial activities,” such as: eating food, and going thrift shopping.
 
“I watch so many food tutorials online like BuzzFeed Tasty, and a lot of cooking clips, mostly in Southeast Asian foods. I also like to thrift, I like to go to what I call the “Ultimate Goodwill” which is the Goodwill Outlet in St. Paul. I really like the Wabasha Brewery because Taco House is right down the block, and they let you bring in food, so you go to Taco House and get your taco and bring that to the Brewery and you’ll have a good night.”